Children play important role in Cook Family Farm

February 05, 2010|By Ann Rowland, Special to the Herald Times

Wanita Cook holds daughter Ashley with son Ryan leaning on the chair. Photo by Ann Rowland

HAYES TWP. - How does the Cook family do it? The enterprise known as Cook Family Farm is located on Hayes Tower Road, about four miles south of M-32, where the family raises a variety of foods, including grass-fed broiler chickens, turkeys, cows, brooding hens, pigs, draft horses and … well, children, 10 to be exact.

“Each of the children finds their niche,” said mom, Wanita Cook. “Everyone helps out around the house, the older ones help with the younger ones, and when there’s a big job to do, like processing chickens, we’re all out there together.”

Here’s a breakdown of how the Cook kids help keep the ends tied:

Amanda is 19 and attends Alpena Community College three days per week where she is studying marketing. She spent her freshman year of college at Cornerstone University, but “was sick all the time,” something that she feels certain was caused by eating chemical laden food. Since returning to the farm and her life of pure food, her health is perfect.

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Scott, at 15, is fully responsible for the laying hens and eggs on the farm, which are 100 percent grass fed with no chemical or hormonal supplements. In addition, the family raises 4,000 broiler chickens each year, which are also grass fed. They are kept in tent-like structures which are moved every day to fresh graze by Scott and his brother, Eric.

“We believe in grass-fed meat here. Because there’s not much grass here in winter,” jokes Scott, “we don’t keep many animals here in the cold months.”

The chicks are started in March in the “brooder” then moved outside to the movable shelters as soon as there is grass showing.

Eric, 14, works closely with Scott and is an all-around farmer. But his primary love is for the six draft horses that he and his older brother own. Three years ago the family acquired their first horse, a colt that was the son of one of the Belgians that Wanita’s grandpa had owned. “The boys did all the work with that horse,” she said.

Soon that horse had a teammate, and another team came onto the farm, and then another, and they belong to Eric and Scott. The two boys take the teams to county fairs in the summer to compete in horse pulls, which according to Eric “keeps them in good shape for winter” when it is sleigh ride season. “We do a lot of sleigh rides.”

Eric and Scott are serious about their horses and the farm, so much so that by saving the money earned by competing at the fairs and offering sleigh rides, they’ve paid for a 30-foot by 64-foot timber frame barn on the farm. And yes, they built it themselves, with some help from Tom. Wanita beams with pride. “It’s not 100 percent complete yet, but it will be this spring.”

Justin is 11 and helps out by baking all the bread that the family eats … three loaves per day. He smiles shyly from his place at the table as his mom brags a little bit about him. “It’s not frozen bread dough — he starts it from scratch. He’s a great baker. He also makes most of the cookies that are provided at the conclusion of each sleigh ride.”

Ryan has a big dream for a 10 year old. Wanita explained that one day he said to her, “Mom, I have some money saved up, and I think it’s enough to open a little restaurant out here. We could serve meals to people and it would all be food from our farm.”

She has no doubt that at some point, he just might do that. Just not yet.

Jason is 8 and he “details” the chickens. Boneless, skinless chicken breasts are one of the farm’s most popular products, and it is Ryan who patiently cuts the small scraps of meat from the bone after the breasts, drumsticks, wings and thighs have been cut up. “He puts in into packages, and we are able to sell that as another product. It makes the best chicken salad!”

Travis is 6. “He’s our family artist” says Wanita. He accompanies Tom to the farmer’s markets where they sell products in the summer. Tom goes to Charlevoix and Boyne City, while Wanita goes to Gaylord and Bellaire.

Five-year-old Ashley has a unique talent. “I can put chickens to sleep.” she said. “Tuck the head under the wing, and rock ‘em!”

Ashley is the farm’s best chicken catcher, cleans the hearts for the giblet packets and goes to market with her mom, where she charms customers. She’s an articulate little wisp of a girl with sparks in her eyes. “She helps me sell things,” her mom said.

Austin, 2, will help out this year wherever he can. Because of his nap, he was unavailable for comment.

Andrea, the baby of the family, has found her place for the time being. She makes her family smile.